CHRIS SPROUSE ON WILDSTORM'S NUMBER OF THE BEAST

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Billed as what could be the end times for a whole universe, WildStorm's upcoming Number of the Beast miniseries kicks off this April. The eight issue series serves as the culmination of over a year’s worth of stories, as seen in WildStorm: Armageddon, Revelations and other recent WildStorm titles, and if the harrowing journey to this destination means anything, it's that all bets are off.

We've spoken to two of the parties involved in this series: editor Ben Abernathy and writer Scott Beatty. But as this is comics and art is the central core to any comic, we now turn to series artist Chris Sprouse.

Best known for his star-making work on Tom Strong and Supreme, Chris Sprouse first came to prominence with the DC series Legionnaires. His confident line work is reminiscent in some ways of the classic strip illustrators of yesteryear, combined with the vitality of modern comics and fluid storytelling. His work has last been see illustrating Midnighter also for WildStorm, and now he turns to this newest challenge: Number of the Beast.

Newsarama: Although the storyline of Number of the Beast is still under-wraps as of yet, we have seen several pages with a lot of never-before-seen characters. What's it been like designing these characters from the ground up?

Chris Sprouse: It's been great fun--I spent a few weeks doing nothing but character designs before I drew a single page of issue #1. I was able to immerse myself in the project completely, spending all day every day just thinking about these people and their world. I've had other opportunities to design characters "from the ground up," as you say--most notably with Tom Strong, but this was the first time I had a big chunk of time deliberately set aside to do this step. It's also been a blast to work on more traditional superheroes again for a change--I'm drawing women with bird wings, big robot guys, space cowboys--how could I not have fun with that?

NRAMA: You couldn't! Talking about the series as a whole, what is this about?

CS: It's a mix of both old and new superhero comics sensibilities. The new characters mentioned above have a definite and intentional Golden/Silver Age vibe, which we'll be able to see contrasted with the rest of the current WildStorm Universe in the second half of the series. Beyond that I can't say much more because I don't want to give anything away. One thing I will say, however, is that despite my comments about how fun the character designing is or how there’s a Golden/Silver Age feel to certain elements; this series does get very dark! It is called Number of the Beast, after all—with a title like that everything’s obviously not going to be simply sweetness and light!

NRAMA: Speaking of dark, you're coming onto this book after a run on Midnighter. What led you to sign up for this miniseries?

CS: Actually, I had a very brief run on Midnighter as it turned out. I only drew three and one half issues, but the fact that I did fifteen covers in a row may have made it seem like I was more involved. I enjoyed the stories by Garth Ennis and Keith Giffen, and I loved drawing the character, but I had a hard time maintaining my enthusiasm as I became (through no one's fault but my own, I might add) a fill-in artist on the book I was supposed to be drawing regularly. When Ben Abernathy pitched Number of the Beast to me, what was initially most appealing was that there was a lot of lead time before the series had to go to press, which I thought was an absolute necessity--I didn't want a repeat of the Midnighter experience. What really hooked me though was Scott Beatty's story with all of these wonderful new heroes and villains, some really cool, some really silly, but all loads of fun! Ben's enthusiasm for the project also went a long way towards getting me on this book as well. He's so into this project it's infectious! That sure sounds weird...

NRAMA: You've done a considerable amount of work in the WildStorm universe, and this upcoming miniseries Number of the Beast promises to shake things up. Before we get to the shaking up – can you tell us your thoughts on the WildStorm universe, and its characters?

CS: What's really strange is that while I've worked on WildStorm books for a decade now, I've only worked with WildStorm Universe characters a few times. I've spent most of my WildStorm time working on Tom Strong and some creator-owned self-contained books like Ocean, Global Frequency and Ex Machina. WILD.C.A.T.S. Aliens, Midnighter, and a few pages of an aborted Gen 13 issue are the only real WildStorm Universe books I've done. But, I've seen enough to know that any kind of story is possible within the WildStorm Universe--science fiction, comedy, action-adventure, political drama, horror, romance and on and on.

NRAMA: Number of the Beast is going to be coming out on a bi-weekly basis – a first for you, if I'm not mistaken. What steps did you take to make sure you could hit those deadlines?

CS: In short, I'm working my a$$ off! I promised Ben Abernathy that from the day I turned in page 1 of issue #1 last year until I finish the last panel of the last issue this year that I would give him my all, and I am! The most important step we took, as I mentioned above, was to start this book insanely early with lots and lots of lead time (something I've never had on any other book)--the series will be almost completely finished before the first issue ships. I did the character designs and then dove in head first! I'm pretty much breathing, eating and sleeping Number of the Beast! I've never worked harder on a series.

Number of the Beast #1 (of 6) is scheduled for April 9, 2008. Check back with Newsarama.com later this month for an interview with Sprouse about his career so far.

[Spy_Smasher]

Not much of a WS-universe guy, but I do like me some Sprouse. I'll consider picking this up.

[sonorous]

One of the greatest artists working in comics at the moment. Anything with his name on it is guaranteed an instant buy for me! A peerless storyteller.

Why he isn't a mega-star on a massive JLA, Batman or other DC event book book I will never understand.

Getting this for sure!

[keith champagne]

I love the work of Chris Sprouse, especially when inked by the equally great Karl Story. Distinctive style and great storyteller.

[Travel Exiter]

Chris would have been a good choice for Wonder Woman after Dodson

Like he said, he's been at DC a looooooooooooong time. I wonder why Marvel hasn't tried to co-opt him away after ABC came to a close.

[Xero]

I like the fact that the Wildstorm USA government sent most of their Golden Age heroes into Hiroshima an hour before they dropped the bomb. Just to frighten the other Golden Agers into compliance. At least according to Revelations #3.

[mykey3000]

I love how we're supposed to still get excited over Sprouse stuff. YES, he's great. But have you been paying attention for the last 10 years? He may be known for launching certain books, but his tenure is SUPER brief. He hardly did any Tom Strong in the end. He's very very slow and has yet to even finish a full modern story arc.

He'll launch this series but he won't end it. I give some props to all the pros out there who deliver kick@$$ work on a monthly schedule.

[ziza9]

As a longtime Wildstorm fan, I would really like to know how this will fit with the already established Kherubim and Deamonite histories of the Wildstorm golden age, as well as what has already been laid out in Planetary. I like DC, but I'm really hoping this is more Wildstorm, than Warner.

[C_Striker]

Originally Posted by Xero

I like the fact that the Wildstorm USA government sent most of their Golden Age heroes into Hiroshima an hour before they dropped the bomb. Just to frighten the other Golden Agers into compliance. At least according to Revelations #3.

That's a great little tidbit and very much in line of how the US Government has been portrayed in the WSU for over a decade…

I can’t wait to see Sprouse cut loose on the rest of the WSU and it’s characters

[gsam4ever]

I too love Sprouse's work but I also agree that he is a notoriously slow artist. Hopefully he'll deliver on time but this goes back to a major problem of comics in general - late books. Why do companies announce these event books if they can't put them out on time. It is a HUGE problem that causes readers to leave and makes it difficult for new ones to come in. I realize that problems do arise from time to time but this is a multi-million dollar business and it is unacceptable.

[Bud Fox]

I agree that Sprouse is slow, and wished he could have finished out Tom Strong a little, um, stronger, but he is still one of the best working, and some reason has been stuck in relative obscurity, get him on JLA, JSA, Legion, Teen Titans, Supes, Bats, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, or ANY CLASSIC DC BOOK! Make it a mini or Secret File or Trinity back-up story, but to have him at DC this long and not work on these characters is tragic. You know he'll be drawing Fantastic Four in the next two years, so please don't waste this opportunity.

[Skinshark]

Originally Posted by keith champagne

I love the work of Chris Sprouse, especially when inked by the equally great Karl Story. Distinctive style and great storyteller.

It was the main reason I bought the book.
Garth Ennis was a nice surprise...rarely do I ever latch onto a character.

I just dropped the book probably 4 issues later than I'd have liked to but I wanted to see if it'd pull out what I felt was a nosedive. I mean if they were going to replace Chris and Karl...why not Brian Stelfreeze, Jason Pearson or Cully Hamner? As far as writers...well Jason Aaron could write the pants off any badass.

[AbacusComics]

Sprouse is the bomb!

[Dallas Bar]

For great Sprouse work: the fabulous Ocean with Warren Ellis

[Charlie Hustle]

Agreed about Sprouse's speed and the way he finished Tom STrong but damn he's a great artist.

[captainzero]

Originally Posted by Spy_Smasher

Not much of a WS-universe guy, but I do like me some Sprouse. I'll consider picking this up.

I'm not much of a WS-Universe guy, either, -- but I do like Sprouse! To see him draw heroes and villains that we haven't seen before could be fun!!
I wouldn't get this without those two key components involved. So, --- I'll, at least, try the first issue.!!

[Cray_ws]

Originally Posted by Bud Fox

I agree that Sprouse is slow, and wished he could have finished out Tom Strong a little, um, stronger, but he is still one of the best working, and some reason has been stuck in relative obscurity, get him on JLA, JSA, Legion, Teen Titans, Supes, Bats, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, or ANY CLASSIC DC BOOK! Make it a mini or Secret File or Trinity back-up story, but to have him at DC this long and not work on these characters is tragic. You know he'll be drawing Fantastic Four in the next two years, so please don't waste this opportunity.

Originally Posted by Travel Exiter

Chris would have been a good choice for Wonder Woman after Dodson

Like he said, he's been at DC a looooooooooooong time. I wonder why Marvel hasn't tried to co-opt him away after ABC came to a close.

Originally Posted by sonorous

One of the greatest artists working in comics at the moment. Anything with his name on it is guaranteed an instant buy for me! A peerless storyteller.

Why he isn't a mega-star on a massive JLA, Batman or other DC event book book I will never understand.

Getting this for sure!

We don't need DC farming anymore Wildstorm talent. you like his art so much then please buy the Wildstorm books.

DC has pulled countless creators off Wildstorm books and its done nothing but undermine the potential success of Wildstorm books. You like Dustin Nguyen on Batman? How about Pete Woods on Robin, Ed McGuinness on Superman, Karl Kerschl on Flash, Gene Ha on JLA, Ed Benes on JLA, Ale Garza on Teen Titans, Tim Sale on Batman, the list goes on. Every one those creators came directly off a Wildstorm book that was doing very well or gaining steam. Soon as DC editors start hearing rave reviews of these creators they start pulling them off and putting them on their own titles. Majority of colorist on DC books are related to Wildstorm.

[RagsM]

Originally Posted by Cray_ws

We don't need DC farming anymore Wildstorm talent. you like his art so much then please buy the Wildstorm books.

DC has pulled countless creators off Wildstorm books and its done nothing but undermine the potential success of Wildstorm books. You like Dustin Nguyen on Batman? How about Pete Woods on Robin, Ed McGuinness on Superman, Karl Kerschl on Flash, Gene Ha on JLA, Ed Benes on JLA, Ale Garza on Teen Titans, Tim Sale on Batman, the list goes on. Every one those creators came directly off a Wildstorm book that was doing very well or gaining steam. Soon as DC editors start hearing rave reviews of these creators they start pulling them off and putting them on their own titles. Majority of colorist on DC books are related to Wildstorm.

You really don't know what you're talking about. DC isn't the big boogey man you portray it. Companies and freelancers work on equal footing, and if one project looks better to a freelancer than another, then so be it.

Case in point, I was all for doing Number of the Beast, but unfortunately I couldn't do a competent job in the time alloted. Conversely I moved onto Nightwing because the time frame was a better one.

It wasn't because DC strong armed me. It wasn't because they waved gold dust in front of me.

It was my decision that was made, and it was due to trying to give my best effort to a project.

I really liked the story line for Number of the Beast and I'm glad they decided to go ahead with it without me. It's gonna be a great story, mark my words, you'll love it.

Chris Sprouse was a brilliant move on Wildstorm's part, and it can only be a success!

[coy_dog0]

I'll buy anything Sprouse does. I really don't understand why the mainstream tends to ignore artists like him, and instead reveres the flashy pin-up guys. I can't even look at the variant covers that those guys put out.
On the other hand, a story drawn by Sprouse, Jim Aparo or Michael Golden can be enjoyed despite the quality of the writer.

[C_Striker]

Originally Posted by RagsM

It wasn't because they waved gold dust in front of me.

PSH Gold dust...dude...Rags EVERYONE knows DC uses magic pixie dust

[Cray_ws]

Originally Posted by RagsM

You really don't know what you're talking about. DC isn't the big boogey man you portray it. Companies and freelancers work on equal footing, and if one project looks better to a freelancer than another, then so be it.

Case in point, I was all for doing Number of the Beast, but unfortunately I couldn't do a competent job in the time alloted. Conversely I moved onto Nightwing because the time frame was a better one.

It wasn't because DC strong armed me. It wasn't because they waved gold dust in front of me.

It was my decision that was made, and it was due to trying to give my best effort to a project.

I really liked the story line for Number of the Beast and I'm glad they decided to go ahead with it without me. It's gonna be a great story, mark my words, you'll love it.

Chris Sprouse was a brilliant move on Wildstorm's part, and it can only be a success!

I appreciate that you doing work for Wildstorm, I really do, but if you think DC is not farming the talent from Wildstorm then you must easily fooled.Wildstorm is breeding ground for some the industry's top talent. Only other publisher that's close was Crossgen.

DC isn't going to strong arm creators when they know they don't have to. They just make offers that are hard to turn down. They do whatever they have to to sweeten the deal, if that doesn't work then they cancel your Wildstorm book. Wildcats v3 was canceled in mist of storyline and Dustin Nguyen was offered more Batman work. Sure he could've turned it down but what was he going to do with Wildcats canceled?

DC isn't an evil publisher, they just been tad abusive to Wildstorm, by not giving them the promotional push Vertigo gets. Number of Beast is suppose to be Wildstorm's biggest crossover event. Where's the hoopla? This is only the second time I've heard about this event. Take thumb through the DC books and look at advertising. I bet Vertigo gets more Ad coverage that Wildstorm's biggest event.

It is NOT the two-way street you think it is with these two imprints.